ou: Le secret des secrets, autrement la clavicule de Salomon, ou le veritable grimoire
French Manuscripts of the Key of Solomon from the ‘Secret of Secrets’ Text-Group, ca. 1830
RSL 210 N 37
Le secret des secrets, autrement la clavicule de Salomon, ou le veritable grimoire is finely executed Key of Solomon manuscript from the ‘Secret of Secrets’ Text-Group. It has two books, the first with ten chapters, the second with thirty-one chapters. Following the last chapter are seventy-two pentacles assigned to the angels of the shemhamphorash. In contrast, the pentacles in the ‘Toz Graecus’ manuscripts BnF Lat. 15127 and BnF Lat. 18510 do not include the names of the angels. This is followed by a table of the Planetary Hours and two diagram of the heavenly bodies, one with the Zodiac, the other showing the spirits that correspond with the first mobile, sky firmament, seven planets, and four elements.
This particular manuscript is preserved in the Russian State Library. Since it was penned, the text of this manuscript has been used to create numerous French print editions of the Key of Solomon.
Typology
Stephen Skinner categorizes his manuscript in the ‘Secret of Secrets’ Text-Group but all ‘Secret of Secrets’ texts are not created equal. The manuscripts that include the name, le véritable Grimoire, warrant their own subtype. They share share many similarities with the ‘Toz Graecus’ manuscripts, especially BnF Lat. 15127 and BnF Lat. 18510. As seen below, the ‘Secret of Secrets’ texts have very similar titles, in many cases referring to ‘Toz Graecus’ under the variation, Tozgrec. The texts by these names are discussed in Thorndike’s ‘History of Magic and Experimental Science’ Vol. II, pp. 225-228. Grillot de Givry mentions this Text-Group, specifically BN2350, in Witchcraft, Magic & Alchemy, (New York: Dover, 1931, esp. pp. 103-106 and figure 74.) Below are the primary manuscripts of this subtype including the present manuscript, RSL 210 N 37, and Wellcome 4662. I have included these two in their entirely, courtesy of the Wellcome and Russian State Libraries.
| BN2350 | Le secret des secrets, autrement la Clavicule de Salomon ou le véritable Grimoire, 18th C (Bibliothèque de Nationale / Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal) Written in French with conjurations in Latin. |
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| BN2493 | Le secret des secrets, ou le veritable grimoire, par Tosgraec, 18th C (Bibliothèque de Nationale / Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal) Written in French with conjurations in Latin. |
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| BN2791 | Livre Second de la Clavicule de Salomon, ou le véritable Grimoire, 18th C (Bibliothèque de Nationale / Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal) Written in French with conjurations in Latin. |
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| RSL 210N37 | Le secret des secrets, autrement la clavicule de Salomon, ou le veritable grimoirem, Circa 1830 (Russian State Library) Written in French with conjurations in Latin. View PDF |
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| Wellcome 4662. | Livre du Secret des Secrets ou la Clavicule de Salomon qui est le véritable Grimoire contenu en deux livres. Late 18th C (Wellcome Library) Written in French with conjurations in Latin. View PDF |
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| Houghton MS Fr 555 | Le secret des secrets : autrement la clavicule de Salomon, ou le véritable grimoire, 18th C (Houghton Library, Harvard University) Written in French with conjurations in Latin. Vol 2. of 2 vol. set (vol. 1: MS Fr 554) |
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| Thott 208 folio | Le Secret des Secrets, autrement la Clavicule de Salomon, ou le Grimoire. Mstum recens elegantissime exaratum, 17?? (Royal Library Denmark) Written in French with conjurations in Latin. |
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